Vintage Photos of Leather Jackets

[devilish]

I don't know? The article I got it from didn't mention anything about nationality. As it looks like North Africa they could be from a number of places because there were Allied Forces from all over based there. Including my Grandad for awhile in the RAF. The guy on the far left does have a very French looking mustache though.

 

[2jakes]

March 1945. Ramitelli, Italy. 332nd AAF Fighter Group."Tuskegee"airman Edward C. Gleed of Lawrence, Kansas. (P-51D.) ~Toni Frissell ~

 

[4444Design]

Are those Free French pilots? Something about the gloves and scarf - and the pin-on wings... But did French flyers wear A2s?

french might be a hint ...

due to the fact that the french forces got equipped by the US for me that might be possible

actually from their appearance these boys look french to me - somehow ...

 

[Dinerman]

1936

 

[Corsair42]

The free French air force or elements of it were issued with A2s by the US. The giveaway in old pictures are the French 'chip bag' hats. There are numerous pictures, some of which are in 'famous people in flight jackets' thread of Antoine De Saint Exupery, French author and WW2 pilot wearing his US issued A2.

 

[Seb Lucas]

1936

Not one of the slimmer vintage fits we hear so much about.

 

[Monitor]

According to RMC prices, each of these guys is wearing approx. $10000 worth of clothes.

 

[Dinerman]

Not one of the slimmer vintage fits we hear so much about.

Of course, most of the people talking about "vintage fits" only have experience with reproductions.

 

[Fastuni]

Leather Ulster, zipper sweater and modestly brimmed hat hat worn by a German "Volkssturm" man December 1944.

 

[Peter Bowden]

From 'The Big Sleep' 1946

 

[Monitor]

From 'The Big Sleep' 1946

Cool jacket and cooler fit! Short jacket, though, and waist drop is crazy.

 

[Peter Bowden]

Hi Monitor
Being a tad ignorant but is the waist drop from armpit to hem?Love this film and the fashions of the period...The male actors in particular seem remarkably lean

 

[Monitor]

Hi Peter! It's my English that's questionable but yep, that's what I meant. The jacket is quite generous in the shoulders and appears roomy enough around the chest but then it just drops to a very tight waist. That actor is very lean, yeah, and the jacket looks awesome on him. This again reminded me of those photos someone else posted a while ago, of a 50's (or so) car show, where several guys can be spotted wearing their leather jackets exactly like in the screens above - which is, oddly so, quite unlike how most modern repros fit.

 

[Peter Bowden]

Thanks Monitor....BTW, I have to thank you and your avatar for expanding my CD collection..What an awesome lady!

 

[Fastuni]

Vermont Governor and Senator George Aiken... mid 1930's.

Great leather jacket with well-worn Fedora.
Love everything about the outfit.

 

[Doctor Damage]

The male actors in particular seem remarkably lean

Everyone was in those days, at least in all the photos I've seen. 'Full figured' men like Sydney Greenstreet and Capone seem to have been the outliers, for the most part, even though both would be dwarfed today...

 

[Doctor Damage]

Not one of the slimmer vintage fits we hear so much about.

Of course, most of the people talking about "vintage fits" only have experience with reproductions.

That, plus they only have experience with non-average sizes like XS which have survived simply because no one bought them originally. How many M or L or 42 sized jackets and clothing have survived from ye olden dayes? It's like the military surplus store experience for most men: we have everything you want as long as you're XS, S, or XXXXL. It's also like the vintage car scene: how many standard trim Cadillac sedans do you see at cruise nights? None. How many convertible loaded-up Cadillacs do you see? Lots, because the people who bought sedans bought them as transportation and drove them into the ground, while the people who bought a big convertible bought it as a Sunday car and never drove it hard. Same with clothing. Those "amazing vintage finds" which the bloggers wet their undies about sat un-purchased in a dry goods store for decades because they were oddball sizes or designs.

 

[2jakes]

This is the chap who made me aware that before the A-2...

There was the A-1.

 

[buler]

 

[A-1]

I love these photos. They remind me not to buy anything more but to wear what I have more frequently!
For those who are after the look of those photos, I'm sorry to break it you, it's not likely to happen with a dozen of jackets and pants in the closet(s). Haha. I mean these people look so great in their clothes because they virtually lived in them. Most of our stuff will never get the mileage to look anywhere like it. That's also why I think most of the people wearing repros and expensive well-made stuff today just look like rich people who like to dress up in fancy clothes. It's hardly ever that I see anyone where it doesn't look like the clothes are wearing the person but the other way round.
So, I think we should all stand up to our own ideals and keep wearing what we have. It'll look so much better after some time.
Even vintage stuff has to be worn by yourself to look right on your body. But that's just my humble opinion.
I love those photos by the way!!!